Status of Urumieh Lake Cause for Concern
The crisis will become more serious when despite the satisfactory rainfalls of the current Iranian year (started March 21), no improvement was observed in its condition as water level of the lake is declining constantly, IRNA reported.
The control of the water flowing into the lake is consistent and it is quite likely to dry up forever.
The lake's salt density under normal conditions is between 185 to 220 grams/liter. An official from West Azarbaijan Province Environmental Department, Hamid Ra'na-Qad said, "The lake's nine islands which are the habitat of birds have undergone serious ecological changes and already lost their characteristics as proper natural habitats."
"A number of the islands have already been integrated into the surrounding land mass, in view of the considerable drop in the lake's water level.
This is why the wildlife inhabiting the lake is threatened with extinction and a lot of birds have already left for safer areas," he added.
Golmankhaneh and Sharafkhaneh are the most significant ports of Urumieh Lake and several tugboats and motor boats ply between the two ports every day.
The lake is one of the world's 59 natural environmental reserves, and is known as a suitable permanent habitat for birds as well as the migratory birds arriving there at particular seasons.
Besides, in view of the natural beauty of its coasts and islands, it is has been designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a world biospheric reserve.
Urumieh Lake, located between East Azarbaijan and West Azarbaijan provinces, in northwestern Iran, is 51,000 square meters in area and the volume of its water is around 37 billion cubic meters.
The lake's length from its northernmost to southernmost points is 120kms, while it is 15-18km wide and about five to 20 meters deep.